Batting

BRONX, N.Y.- The Quinnipiac University baseball team fell to Fordham, 8-6, in a midweek matchup at Houlihan Park in Bronx, N.Y. The loss drops Quinnipiac to 2-13 on the season while Fordham improves to 7-8.

Senior Mike Blumenthal (Dix Hills, N.Y.) led the Bobcats offensively, going 3-for-5 with one run scored, one RBI, and two stolen bases. Blumenthal currently boasts his team-, season-best hitting streak to eight games in which he is hitting a gawdy .562 (9-16) in the span. Juniors Brian Ruditys (Boothwyn, PA) and Vincent Guglietti (East Haven, Conn), along with sophomore Mike Palladino (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) and freshman Matthew Oestreicher (North Haven, Conn), all had two hits for the day. Ruditys now leads the team with five mutliple-hit games. Quinnipiac outhit Fordham 14-9 but was unable to capitalize when they needed to with runners in scoring position.

Fordham jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom half of the first. Quinnipiac responded with a run in the top of the 3rd when sophomore Lou Iannotti (North Haven, Conn) grounded into a double play to score Ruditys and make it a 4-1 game. The Bobcats tacked on another run in the top half of the 6th when Ruditys grounded out to score Mike Blumenthal and make it a 6-3 game. Quinnipiac scored two in the top of the 7th when senior Nic Civale (East Windsor, Conn) scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-4 before Blumenthal singled to score Oestreicher to make it 7-5.

Fordham added a run in the bottom half of the 7th to take an 8-5 lead. Ianotti singled with two outs in the top of the 8th to score junior Dale Long (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) and cut the lead to 8-6.

Quinnipiac loaded the bases with one out in the top of the 9th but was unable to push any more runs across as the game ended in an 8-6 decision for the home team.

Sophomore Joseph Scaglione (Wyckoff, N.J.) was handed his third loss of the season after tossing four innings and allowing six runs on five hits while striking out one. Freshman Brandon Shileikis (North Dighton, Mass) tossed three innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out one. Freshman Matthew Osieja (Wyckoff, N.J.) tossed a scoreless frame in the bottom half of the 8th.

The Bobcats will look to bounce back into the win column when they host former NEC foe Sacred Heart on Thursday, Mar. 20 at 3 PM for their home opener at the QU Baseball Field in Hamden, Conn. Quinnipiac fans should visit the official website of Quinnipiac Athletics, www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com, for up-to-the-minute schedule changes as well as the latest news, scores and highlights.